Parsons Cemetery, third or fourth largest cemetery in Decatur County, is bounded by Fourth Street, Perryville Road, Fifth Street, and Carolina Avenue. It is shown on the U.S.G.S. Jeanette quadrangle (1986) as the unnamed cemetery between the label "Water" and the label "Parsons." The cemetery designated on the quadrangle as "Parsons Cem" to the southeast is Clay Cemetery, the city's old negro cemetery.

Parsons Cemetery is divided into two sections. The newer western section originally was to have been a memorial garden type cemetery with flush-to-the-ground markers for easy mowing. However, this plan has not been enforced. This section may be called Parsons Memorial Gardens in some obituaries from the 1970s and 1980s. All black burials in Parsons Cemetery are grouped together in a small area within this section.

David Donahue recorded Parsons Cemetery in late spring 1991 and updated it November 1996 and February 3, 2001. He checked and updated the cemetery over several visits November 6-11, 2003 and updated the West Section Dec. 10, 2003. Doris Scott and Blanche Tuten recorded Parsons Cemetery in 1977. Their record appears in Decatur County, Tennessee Cemetery Records by the Captain Nathaniel A. Wesson Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Parsons, Tennessee, 1984, pp. 324-445. Reference is made to their earlier record where appropriate.

Western Section (Black Burials)

Although nothing clearly distinguishes black burials within the western section of Parsons Cemetery, these burials are grouped together within a small area and are believed to be blacks. Parham, Rawls, and Stephenson-Shaw are funeral homes which serve their black communities. Decatur County Funeral Home is not associated with the black community like the others but does seems to be handling black burials in the Parsons area since the demise of Parham Mortuary.

Hendrix, Dale Griggs, Mar. 21, 1959-Mar. 5, 1964, "Son of H. C. & Lavern Griggs Hendrix" [not found in 1991, reported by Scott and Tuten in 1977; he was moved to the Hendrix Cemetery on Myracletown Road]

McIllwain, Harold, d. May 25,1988, Aged 82 Years 9 Months 10 Days, temporary marker, southernmost of two graves about 7 yards east of the marker for Emma Odle Townsend [not found in 2003; recorded in 1991]

Perez, Anna Marie, d. June 21, 2001, "Infant," temporary marker, about 3 feet southwest of the southwest corner of the Evans lot [information recorded in 2001; location noted in 2003 when only name remained on temporary marker]

Roper, Betty Houston, 1930-1995, "In memory of" "Beloved daughter" [this is between the military marker used as a footstone for Kennie K. Houston and the footstone for Mabel Davis Houston; there is no evidence that Betty Houston Roper is buried here]

Rushing, Earl H., June 17, 1910-Nov. 15, 1987, military marker "Cpl US Army World War II"

Tittle, Dorthea A., 1959-2001, temporary marker, Parsons Mortuary, no good reference point, generally about 15 feet south of the southwest corner of the Evans lot, 6 feet south of temporary marker for Donald Griffith and 12 feet south of the temporary marker for Anna Marie Perez

Winston, Billy, 1936-2001, temporary marker, Parsons Mortuary, against marker for Claire B. Miller but probably marking burial to the west

Winston, Robert L., no dates, "Husband of Golden Winston" [there is a burial with no marker 1 yard south of this one, between this marker and temporary marker for Billy Winston]

Woods, Myrtle Harris, July 22, 1896-Aug. 5, 1920

Wortham, Charles B., Feb. 11, 1911-Feb. 10, 1958

Wright, Ida A., 1873-1958

Wright, Mable, Apr. 7, 1906-Apr. 19, 1993

Wright, Noble [see Hall, Noble]

Wylie, A. E., Dec. 20, 1857-Nov. 10, 1918, "Wife of A. T. Wylie" [Note: In 1991 there were flowers matching those on this grave at a spot 2 feet north of it.]

Wylie, A. T., no dates

Yarbro-Levell, Elizabeth Jean, no dates, "Mother of Ruben Curtis" "Sister of Lou Ann" "Daughter of David and Nancy"; military marker as footstone "Elizabeth Jean Yarbro" "A1C US Air Force"; dates on military marker June 29, 1960-May 12, 1982 [Eastern Star symbol and DAR symbol added to military marker]